Chromatic Aberration
Chromatic aberration is a color fringing effect caused by a lens failing to focus all wavelengths of light equally.
Feb 2, 2026
Overview
Chromatic aberration appears as colored edges, usually purple or green, around high-contrast subjects. It occurs because different wavelengths of light bend differently when passing through lens elements.
Types
Longitudinal aberration affects focus depth, while lateral aberration affects image edges.
Prevention
Higher-quality lenses and smaller apertures can reduce this effect. Many cameras and editing programs also offer correction tools.
Professional Insight
Recognizing chromatic aberration helps photographers diagnose lens limitations and improve image quality.
Overview
Chromatic aberration appears as colored edges, usually purple or green, around high-contrast subjects. It occurs because different wavelengths of light bend differently when passing through lens elements.
Types
Longitudinal aberration affects focus depth, while lateral aberration affects image edges.
Prevention
Higher-quality lenses and smaller apertures can reduce this effect. Many cameras and editing programs also offer correction tools.
Professional Insight
Recognizing chromatic aberration helps photographers diagnose lens limitations and improve image quality.
Overview
Chromatic aberration appears as colored edges, usually purple or green, around high-contrast subjects. It occurs because different wavelengths of light bend differently when passing through lens elements.
Types
Longitudinal aberration affects focus depth, while lateral aberration affects image edges.
Prevention
Higher-quality lenses and smaller apertures can reduce this effect. Many cameras and editing programs also offer correction tools.
Professional Insight
Recognizing chromatic aberration helps photographers diagnose lens limitations and improve image quality.
Chromatic aberration causes color fringing, revealing limits of lens optics.